To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which members of the Casino Advisory Panel were appointed because of their experience in assessing the regenerative impact of a regional casino. (129986)

[holding answer 26 March 2007]: The skills and experience required by the Chair and members of the Casino Advisory Panel were set out in the role specification that formed part of the recruitment pack. Ministers were seeking people with skills and experience at a senior, strategic level in one or more of the following areas:

the local or regional planning system;

regeneration of disadvantaged areas;

the leisure and tourism industries;

the evaluation of economic change and its social impact.

Biographical details of the five individuals selected to become the Chair and members of the Casino Advisory Panel were included in the press release, issued on 30 September 2005, which announced the establishment of the panel.

The press release is available on the Panel’s website at www.culture.gov.uk/cap. Copies have been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Casino Advisory Panel’s guidance issued to the participants in the Examinations in Public. (129989)

[holding answer 26 March 2007]: None. The Casino Advisory Panel is independent from Government and the conduct of the examinations in public (EiP) was entirely a matter for the Panel.

The House of Lords Merits Committee of Statutory Instruments held an evidence session on the Draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007 on 13 March 2007.

Prior to the hearing, interested parties, including the local authorities that bid for the regional casino licences, were invited to submit written evidence to the Committee. It was clear from the evidence submitted that some parties were concerned about some aspects of the EiPs but that many others were satisfied that the Panel had conducted the examinations in a fair and open manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Casino Advisory Panel had with Government departments other than her Department on the definition of regeneration benefits in drawing up its report. (130351)

[holding answer 27 March 2007]: The Casino Advisory Panel was set up to operate entirely independently of the Government. The manner in which it carried out its work, within its agreed terms of reference and remit, was entirely a matter for the panel.

The panel drew on a large amount of material and evidence in preparing its report. In chapters 4 and 5 of its report, the panel considered regeneration issues and took account of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s indices of multiple deprivation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions there have been between the Casino Advisory Panel’s Chairman and her Department on how the panel reached its definition of social impact since the publication of the panel’s report on 30 January. (130352)

[holding answer 27 March 2007]: There has been no discussion between the Department and the chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel on this topic since the publication of the panel’s report on 30 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what briefing on (a) social impact and (b) regeneration officials in her Department gave to the Chair of the Casino Advisory Panel prior to his appearance before the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee on 13 March. (130353)

[holding answer 27 March 2007]: DCMS officials did not provide Professor Crow, Chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel, with briefing on any topic prior to his appearance before the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee on 13 March.